Big boot Monaro CV8 coolant loss

[Codswallop]

Hi all,

my 04 Monaro low coolant light came on earlier. Appears to be loosing coolant with drips present roughly where the radiator is. Seems to be mostly on the passenger side of the car.

One bit that I'm confused by, is that there appears to be a wet patch quite high up on the passenger side of the engine (just under the power steering fluid reservoir - see photo).



You can see the bottom of that hose is wet (not the top though). It's definitely a coolant leak. Power steering fluid is at the correct level. Any thoughts as to what that may be about? Is a radiator the most likely culprit?

[dsmith1990]

If it helps the link below is what mine looked like when the rad went in late 2014. I could see some fluid at the base of the radiator looking down on it and it was the plastic end bits failing. Just took a punt and bought a new rad which fixed it

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...

Now I seem to have a power steering leak though and it's going in Monday hopefully something simple as a few bits have been replaced already!

[Codswallop]

Thanks dsmith - my leak looked like your photo when I had a poke around the car today.

Took the undertrays off, and there was a bit of coolant collected on there. Everything else in the engine bay looked dry - no evidence of leaks along the expansion tank, pipework looks and feels to be in good condition. Therefore, I'm guessing it must be the radiator and will be ordering one shortly.

The random dampness on the front of the passenger side block must have come from the radiator/ fan combo? Can't see anywhere else that it might have come from.

[vxr2010]

areas of leaking can be , the two coolant pipes between the back of the block and firewall on the offside , when checking all can appear ok and un damaged but that's not always the case as it's not easy to check , the expansion tank has an overflow pipe , and finally the radiator , the cracks can be difficult to see the plastic housing goes after a while which is fairly normal on most rads , my o4 cv8 went about a year ago with around 60 k miles on the clock , hope that helps

[THUNDER STORM]

Go for the all aluminium rad if its the rad, from monkfish

Ade

[Codswallop]

Thanks chaps. I checked the pipes around the back of the block (all seemed dry and fine). Aluminium Mishimoto rad should be with me on Friday from the fish.

Then I've just got to fit it. Hopefully it won't need too much modifying as I've read a few people had to trim the side brackets and persuade bits to fit.

[THUNDER STORM]

Codswallop said:

Thanks chaps. I checked the pipes around the back of the block (all seemed dry and fine). Aluminium Mishimoto rad should be with me on Friday from the fish.

Then I've just got to fit it. Hopefully it won't need too much modifying as I've read a few people had to trim the side brackets and persuade bits to fit.

Yes I had to just trim the left side looking at it, I think it was so that it would slot into the holding bracket.

Nothing of a job and a radiator with a great warranty.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Ade

[Codswallop]

Bit of an update - fitted the Mishimoto radiator yesterday. Took about 3 hours total. All pretty straightforward. Getting the air con rad lined up with the new radiator when working alone was a bit tricky, but not a difficult job overall.

Had to trim the plastic shroud on the left hand side when looking at the engine bay (as a few others mentioned already) in order to fit the new radiator, but other than that it was a straight swap.

Old radiator was in immaculate condition. No corrosion, all the fins looked perfect but I found a nice long thin crack on the right plastic end tank by the fan support which caused the leak. No chance of seeing that without getting the radiator out.

[THUNDER STORM]

Codswallop said:

Bit of an update - fitted the Mishimoto radiator yesterday. Took about 3 hours total. All pretty straightforward. Getting the air con rad lined up with the new radiator when working alone was a bit tricky, but not a difficult job overall.

Had to trim the plastic shroud on the left hand side when looking at the engine bay (as a few others mentioned already) in order to fit the new radiator, but other than that it was a straight swap.

Old radiator was in immaculate condition. No corrosion, all the fins looked perfect but I found a nice long thin crack on the right plastic end tank by the fan support which caused the leak. No chance of seeing that without getting the radiator out.

Glad its sorted, far better than putting another original for same to happen again

Ade

[vxr2010]

original radiators do tend to last a long time mine was about 11or 12 years old before it died which is not bad , i went with original again based on life span